The Back Office Nonprofit Empowerment Support (BONES) program was launched in 2025 as a pilot initiative of the Lodi Community Foundation, made possible through a seed grant from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. BONES was designed to address a critical sustainability gap facing many small- and medium-sized nonprofits: limited access to back-office and capacity-building support, while also strengthening the health and resilience of local nonprofit leaders and the organizations that serve as the backbone of our community.

While local nonprofits are deeply committed to serving community needs, many operate with limited administrative resources. Essential functions—such as fundraising strategy, financial management, human resources, governance, technology, marketing, and staff wellness—are often underfunded or handled by overextended leaders. BONES was created to change that.

What BONES Provides

BONES connects under-resourced nonprofit leaders with tailored consultants and vendor support in areas essential to long-term organizational health and sustainability, including:

• Fundraising strategy
• Financial management and fiscal systems
• Human resources and legal compliance
• Board development and governance
• Marketing and communications
• Technology and systems support
• Employee health, wellness, and organizational culture
• Other critical organizational health capacities

By providing access to expert consulting services, BONES allows nonprofit leaders to strengthen their organizations without diverting scarce program dollars away from mission-critical work.

Currently, the BONES program is only able to consider supporting nonprofits that are based in and serving the Lodi area and its residents.
To be considered, organizations generally must meet the following criteria:

• Be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in good standing, based in Lodi and serving Lodi area residents.
• As a general guideline, BONES does not support start-up organizations. Eligible organizations should have operated as a nonprofit for at least three years.
• Demonstrate basic organizational readiness to benefit from support (such as an active governing board and basic financial and administrative systems).
• Requests should focus on time-limited, capacity-building or back-office needs that strengthen long-term sustainability (for example: fundraising strategy, financial systems, HR and compliance, governance, technology, marketing and communications, and organizational health and culture).
• Preference may be given to organizations that are under-resourced and would not otherwise have access to this type of support.
• Organizations with at least one paid staff member (full- or part-time) may be prioritized; volunteer-led organizations may still be considered depending on the request and readiness.
• BONES is designed to supplement, not replace, an organization’s operating budget. Services accessed may not be used for costs the organization would typically budget for (such as subscriptions, professional development, and vendor/consultant services).
• Requests are typically for discrete projects with clear goals and a defined timeframe, rather than ongoing, indefinite support.
• BONES does not support direct program expenses or client services, or other activities not aligned with the fund purposes and mission of LCF.

If your nonprofit organizations meets the initial eligibility and you have a need you would like to discuss for potentially seeking support through the BONES program, contact us and a member of our team will follow up with you.

Want to Invest in Nonprofit Sustainability? The success of the BONES pilot confirmed that thriving nonprofits require strong infrastructure. By investing in the BONES Fund, donors help ensure local organizations have access to the tools, expertise, and support they need to remain resilient, effective, and sustainable—today and for years to come.
Your tax-deductible donations allow BONES to reach more nonprofits, deepen its impact, and strengthen the backbone of the nonprofit sector serving the Lodi community every day. Services through the BONES program for a single organization can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars or more, depending on the type of services accessed and the level of support required. Thank you!

👉 CLICK HERE or use the QR code to support the BONES program